PIAC is representing a Sydney-based man, Greg Killeen, in his disability discrimination complaint against two taxi networks and the NSW Department of transport and Infrastructure.

Mr Killeen claims many wheelchair accessible taxis are in breach of the national Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Cth).

Many taxis licensed by the Department of Transport as wheelchair accessible fail to comply with the Disability Standards. This makes them unsafe, uncomfortable and in some cases unusable.

Mr Killeen is not seeking financial compensation. He is asking the Federal Court to stop the Department of Transport from issuing licenses to wheelchair accessible taxis that fail to meet the Disability Standards.

The matter is currently before the Federal Court.

In June 2010, a NSW Legislative Council Select Committee report on the taxi industry recommended that all wheelchair accessible taxis be audited to check compliance with the Disability Standards.

Mr Killeen is represented in the Federal Court by PIAC and Mr Alan Robertson SC of 5th Floor St James’ Hall Chambers and Ms Kate Eastman of 6th and 7th Floor St James Hall Chambers.

• Select Committee report
• PIAC Submission to the Select Committee
• PIAC supplementary submission